Drought in France: impact on harvest and vegetable prices

The abnormal drought in France has led to a significant decrease in agricultural harvest. According to the French Vegetable Producers, losses range from 25% to 50%, and for individual crops reach 100%. Against the background of water scarcity, crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce are becoming particularly expensive.

To curb price growth and cope with the consequences of the crisis, the Federation of Trade and Distribution announced on August 18 the admission of "ugly" fruits and vegetables to store shelves — smaller or less attractive produce.

Biologist Marc-André Selosse notes that France's transition to regenerative agriculture is slow: about 400 farms have implemented the respective method, which is why the "Au Cœur des Sols" label is not yet available in stores.

At the same time, the authors of the material point to the risks of a decline in food production. Against the background of problems with fertilizer and oil supplies, as well as the potential consequences of the El Niño phenomenon for agriculture in various regions of the world, experts fear the aggravation of the situation in supply chains and urge avoiding pressure from environmental activists demanding a transition to organic farming and a reduction in pesticide use.